Earl Watson doesn’t claim to have discovered James Harden, but the Suns coach likes to think he was ahead of the game when it came to recognizing the Houston superstar’s talent. And while you’re at it, go ahead and put Russell Westbrook in that category as well.

"It’s an L.A. thing. I was just lucky,’’ said Watson, who played high school ball in Kansas City but college ball at UCLA. “I saw James and Russ when they both were in high school. I just knew those two were different. James always had a maturity to his game and a patience to his game that high school players just don’t have.”

Watson on Monday will see those qualities again with the Suns facing Harden and the Rockets for the second time in five days. On Dec. 21, Harden had 27 points and 14 assists in a 125-111 win in Phoenix. The Suns – who snapped a four-game losing streak Friday against Philadelphia – will need a better defensive effort to win in Houston, but it won’t be easy.

Watson’s history with Harden runs deep. But first, we have to start with Westbrook.

Watson spent the prime of his NBA career with the Seattle SuperSonics, starting 73 games during the 2007-08 season, averaging 10.7 points and 6.8 assists. One day, Watson said Seattle General Manager Sam Presti – knowing Watson’s Los Angeles background – asked him which players he liked.

“I remember sitting with Sam Presti and I remember telling him about this kid named Russell Westbrook,’’ Watson said. “And at that time Russell wasn’t a big name. People loved Derrick Rose, Jerryd Bayless and O.J. Mayo. And I kept saying, ‘Nah, there’s this other kid named Russ. He’s just different. He’s real raw, but he plays with so much passion. He’s like an animal on the court.’' '

Presti asked, according to Watson: What position does he play?

“I don’t know,’’ Watson said. “He’s a player.”

Fast forward: Seattle relocated to Oklahoma City and on June 26, 2008, the Thunder drafted Westbrook – coming off a breakout sophomore season at UCLA – with the fourth overall pick. Watson and Westbrook played together the next season.

“So Sam comes to me that following season,’’ Watson said. “Russell’s rookie year. He goes, ‘Who do you like this year?' This is in front of all the scouts. I said, ‘This kid named James Harden.' "

Come on.

“They go, ‘You just like everyone from LA,' " said Watson, who kept sharp in the offseason by playing in Southern California. “I said that’s who I see, I can’t help who comes to the gym.”

On June 25, 2009, the Thunder drafted James Harden third overall.

Watson isn’t naive. He knows Oklahoma City did its homework. He knows both Westbrook and Harden were considered high draft picks by the time they declared for the draft. Even so, it’s still a point of pride that he recognized the potential in two future superstars long before it blossomed at basketball's highest level.

“After that, I told (Presti), 'If you want any more intel, you’re going to have to hire me,' ’’ Watson said.

This year Westbrook and Harden both are playing at MVP levels. In Oklahoma City, Westbrook is averaging a triple double. In Houston, Harden is re-inventing himself, and maybe changing the game.

The former Arizona State standout always has been a good passer, but this season new coach Mike D’Antoni decided to put the ball in Harden’s hands full time, as the team’s primary point guard. Result: The 6-5 Harden is averaging 27.4 points (fifth in the league entering Sunday) and 11.9 assists (first).

“There is no other point guard in the league like that,” Memphis coach David Fizdale told reporters.

There are no secrets in the NBA. Advanced scouting and video analysis have changed the way teams prepare. A player’s tendencies are studied and analyzed. Yet at the same time, D’Antoni – hired in May -- admitted Harden initially surprised him.

“I didn’t know he was that good of a pick-and-roll guy,'' he said. "I didn’t know he was that good of a passer. I didn’t know he saw the court as well as he did. Until you coach somebody, you really don’t know. … He just has a sense of the things that he can do. And his ability to control the game is unique.”

In some ways, D’Antoni said Harden reminds him of a point guard he coached in Phoenix – two-time MVP Steve Nash.

“They’re the ones with the drum,’’ he said. “They got the beat going on. You got to play at that beat. (Harden’s) not getting sped up and Steve never did. He controlled the whole game.”

To Watson, Harden stands out in one other way. It’s a quality the Houston guard also shares with Westbrook.

They love to play.

“If you go play pickup anywhere in L.A. and if there’s NBA players, you will find Russell Westbrook or James Harden in that game,’’ Watson said. “Even this summer coming up, they love to hoop. There’s something about players that love to play. You can only get good at what you love to do consistently over and over and over.”

To him, that says a lot.

“That old-age question: If you wasn’t an NBA player, would you still play?” Watson said. “Those guys would still play.”

Monday's game

Suns at Rockets

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Toyota Center, Houston.

TV/Radio: FSAZ/KTAR-FM (98.7)

Rockets update: Houston is coming off Friday’s 115-109 loss at Memphis, a game which they gave up 38 points in the fourth quarter and made more shots outside the arc (20) for the game than inside (18). Even so, the Rockets are 11-2 this month. They haven’t lost two in a row all season. In addition to James Harden, guard Eric Gordon averages 17.6 points, shooting 42.5 percent from 3-point range.

Suns forward Marquese Chriss (0) reacts after being called for a foul in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Ben Moffat/azcentral sports

76ers forward Robert Covington (33) reacts after being called for a foul in the third quarter against the Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Ben Moffat/azcentral sports

Suns forward Marquese Chriss (0) reacts after being called for a foul in the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Ben Moffat/azcentral sports

Suns forward TJ Warren (12) reacts after missing the last shot of the in the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Ben Moffat/azcentral sports

The Phoenix Suns Gorilla takes the court dressed as Santa Claus before a game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Ben Moffat/azcentral sports

Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) reacts after being called for a foul in the first quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix on Friday, Dec. 23, 2016. Ben Moffat/azcentral sports